Skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States, begins in the outer layer of skin (the epidermis). The best way to prevent this disease is to protect yourself from the sun and other sources of UV radiation. Although some types of skin cancer are curable, people who have had the disease previously have a greater chance of developing another skin cancer.
Skin cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells form in the tissues of the skin. It is the most common cancer in the United States.
This article will discuss the two most common types of skin cancer, which are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These types of skin cancer are also called nonmelanoma skin cancer. For more information about melanoma, click Melanoma.
Skin Cancer: Understanding the Skin
The skin is the body's largest organ. It performs a few different roles:
It protects the body against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection
It helps control body temperature
It stores water, fat, and vitamin D.
The skin has several layers, but the two main layers are the epidermis (upper, or outer layer) and the dermis (lower, or inner layer).
Skin cancer begins in the epidermis, which is made up of three kinds of cells, including:
Squamous cells: Thin, flat cells that form the top layer of the epidermis.
Basal cells: Round cells that are under the squamous cells.
Melanocytes: Found in the lower part of the epidermis, these cells make melanin, the pigment that gives skin its natural color. When skin is exposed to the sun, melanocytes make more pigment, causing the skin to tan, or darken.
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